Preparation of advanced functional materials from agricultural waste by eco-friendly processing route is inevitable for sustainable development. This work demonstrates the development of carbon/silica (C/SiO2) and carbon/silicon carbide (C/ SiC) composite foam monoliths of low thermal conductivity, high EMI shielding performance and reasonable compressive strength from rice husk. The C/SiO2 and C/SiC composite foams are obtained by carbonization and subsequent carbothermal reduction, respectively, of rice husk–sucrose composites consolidated by filter-pressing rice husk powder dispersed in sucrose solutions of various concentrations (300–600 g L− 1). The amorphous nature of silica in C/SiO2 and the presence of β-SiC in C/SiC are evidenced from XRD and TEM analysis. The compressive strength and thermal conductivity are depending on the foam density which is tailored by sucrose solution concentration. The compressive strength in the ranges of 0.32–1.67 and 0.19–1.19 MPa are observed for C/SiO2 and C/SiC foams, respectively, with density in the ranges of 0.26–0.37 and 0.18–0.29 g cm− 3. The C/SiO2 and C/SiC exhibited thermal conductivity in the ranges of 0.150–0.205 W m− 1 K− 1 and 0.165–0.431 W m− 1 K− 1, respectively. The C/SiO2 and C/SiC composite foams show absorption dominated EMI shielding effectiveness in the ranges of 18–38.5 dB and 20–43.7 dB, respectively. The inherent pore channels and corrugated surface structure in rice husk, electrically conducting carbon and dielectric SiO2 and SiC contribute to the total EMI shielding.

Sandwich structures are general-purpose structures that can reduce the structural weight of composite ships. Core materials are essential for these structures, with polyvinyl chloride (PVC) foams being the most popular. These foam core materials are subjected to various tests in the development process, and must satisfy the performance requirements of several ISO and ASTM standards. Therefore, a procedure for evaluating the performance of foam core materials was proposed in this paper. In addition, prototypes were fabricated using a commercial PVC foam core product in accordance with the structural design of an 11 m fiber-reinforced plastic yacht. Then, a case study was conducted on the proposed evaluation procedure. The proposed procedure facilitates the understanding of the performance requirements and evaluation of core materials used in composite ships and is expected to be utilized in developing core materials for marine structures.

Nanoporous carbon/MnO2 (C–MnO2) composites with foam-like structure based on modified nitrile butadiene rubber were achieved by thermal treatment, followed by alkaline solution etching and dipping method. The XRD, nitrogen adsorption and desorption, and SEM and TEM were used to characterize the microstructure of the obtained C–SiO2, C and C–MnO2. Finally, all the obtained samples have been used in three-electrode system to study the electrochemical properties including cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic charge/discharge and AC impedance for supercapacitor. The study found that the specific capacity of C–MnO2 electrode material for supercapacitor could reach as high as 109 F/g under the current density of 0.5 A/g, which is much higher than those of the other two. These superior electrochemical properties are attributed to the synergistic effect MnO2 particles with the C matrix which functions as a conductive support.

In order to develop a process for manufacturing a composite structure of an intermetallic compound foam and a hollow material, the firing and pore form of the Al-Ni precursor in a steel pipe are investigated. When the Al-Ni precursor is foamed in a hollow pipe, if the temperature distribution inside the precursor is uneven, the pore shape distribution becomes uneven. In free foaming, no anisotropy is observed in the foaming direction and the pore shape is isotropic. However, in the hollow pipe, the pipe expands in the pipe axis direction and fills the pipe. The interfacial adhesion between Al3Ni foam and steel pipe is excellent, and interfacial pore and reaction layer are not observed by SEM. In free foaming, the porosity is 90 %, but it decreases to about 80 % in the foam in the pipe. In the pipe foaming, most of the pore shape appears elongated in the pipe direction in the vicinity of the pipe, and this tendency is more remarkable when the inside pipe diameter is small. It can be seen that the pore size of the foam sample in the pipe is larger than that of free foam, because coarse pores remain after solidification of the foam because the shape of the foam is supported by the pipe. The vertical/horizontal length ratio expands along the pipe axis direction by foaming in the pipe, and therefore circularity is reduced.

Nowadays, advanced composite material are widely used in civil & architectural structures. Analysis of foam core sandwich bridges for simple supported made by advanced composite materials is presented in this paper. For the design of advanced composite materials bridge, foam core shape is economical and profitable. Navier’s solutions are compared in this paper to verify the authenticity of Finite Difference Method. Finite Difference Method is used for analysis of the pertinent problems. In this study, reduction rate of tensile strength for E-glass fibers due to increase in size, strength reduction ratios of according to mass, stress changes according to form core height and safety ratio due to increase form core height is presented. Tasi-Wu failure strength theory are used. Strength reduction is necessary for safe design of a structures.

In this study, the fracture property of impact absorption is investigated using the carbon fiber composite material. And this property is compared with the carbon fiber composite material with aluminum foam. Carbon fiber composite material has the high specific strength and rigidity and the superior durability and fatigue life and light weight. On the ground of these properties, this material has been used widely at the fields of airplane, national defence industry, vehicle and the various industrial areas. Aluminum foam can also be applied at the various areas as it is the material with the superior properties. And this foam is the material which can solve the problem on the light weight of particular product. At the condition of the impact energy of 20J, the maximum loads of CFRP sandwich composite and CFRP sandwich composite with aluminum foam core are shown to be 5.7 kN and 6.5 kN respectively. In case of maximum energies, these values are shown to be 19 J and 17.5 J respectively. At the impact energy of 50 J, the maximum loads of CFRP sandwich composite and CFRP sandwich composite with aluminum foam core are shown to be 7 kN and 8.8 kN respectively. In case of maximum energies, these values are shown to be 43 J and 48 J respectively. At the impact energy of 80 J, the maximum loads of CFRP sandwich composite and CFRP sandwich composite with aluminum foam core are shown to be 9.2 kN and 11 kN respectively. In case of maximum energies, these values are shown to be 70 J and 63 J respectively. As the result of this study, the mechanical properties are investigated through the impact experiments on the composites composed of the closed aluminum foam and the carbon fiber reinforced plastic used frequently as absorbents.

This study aims to analyze the structural behavior on TDCB models bonded adhesively with aluminum foam composite. These simulation models are designed on the basis of British industrial and ISO standards. The variable of configuration factor(m) is set up to investigate the fracture toughness of bonded joint due to the volume of material. Equivalent stress, deformation energy, pressure at bonded part, reaction force-crack length, energy release rate-crack length are obtained by this analysis. Through the data of this study, the fracture behavior can be analyzed by applying the practical composite structure bonded with aluminum foam and the mechanical property can be understood.